yDNA - BIG News!

In your genealogy research, have you ever suspected a relationship but never could find evidence to support your suspicions?

Well that's been the case with my James Crawford research and I now have yDNA evidence to support that suspicion!

My brothers yDNA has been placed in the R-Y88686 haplogroup. My first match was to descendants of Edward Crawford of Tennessee. Unfortunately, I haven't been able to verify that our two lines resided in the same area at the same time let alone discover a family connection.

With today's notice of a new Big Y match, I now have a match with a familiar line. The new match is a descendant of James and Rebecca (Anderson) Crawford.

Garrard County Names

Do you use a list of FAN (Friends, Acquaintances, Neighbors) club names when researching county records for your family? If so, do you ever struggle with remembering how the members of your FAN club fit together? If so, you are not alone.

As I'm getting back into my CRAWFORD research and Garrard County, Kentucky records by reading an order book, I've found that I not only need a list of names, but a diagram of how they might fit together. Since I don't own any software to easily create such a diagram, I used Microsoft Publisher and multiple text boxes to create my diagram of the CRAWFORD families in early Garrard County, Kentucky along with some associated families.

Adams on Sugar Creek

Garrard County, Kentucky
Deeds 1787-1902; indexes, 1899-1960

Vol. C 1793-1796
Family Search DGS 183284 Film 008141322

Book C page 554 - image 291

This Indenture made this 6th day of October in the year of our Lord one thousand seven hundred and ninety five Between Charles Bland of the County of Madison and State of Kentucky of the one part and Fethergill Adams of the state and County aforesaid of the other part witnesseth that for an inconsideration of the sum of one hundred and twenty pounds current money of the aforesaid state to him in hand paid by the said Fethergill Adams, the receipt whereof the said Charles Bland do hereby acknowledges and himself therewith fully satisfied and contented hath granted bargained sold aliened and confirmed and by these presents doth grant bargain sell alien and confirm unto the said Feathergill Adams one certain tract or parcell of land containing one hundreds and twenty six acres situate lying and being in the County of Madison and on the waters of Shugar Creek being the [apperend] of a seven hundred acre survey assigned to Walker Daniel by Green Glay and bounded as follows to wit Begining at three beech trees standing in Moses Dooley’s south and north line of his five hundred acre survey and on the west side of a small drain extending from thence south eighty one degrees east at thirty four poles crossing Jno Clarks road in all one hundred and ninety four poles to three beach trees standing in William McClures line thence

image 292 — Page 555

with his line south forty five degrees west two hundred and seventy poles to a Shugartree standing in the said Dooleys south and north line thence with sd Dooleys line north two hundred and eighteen poles to the Beginning with its appurtenances To have and to hold the said land and premises with every of its appurtenances unto the said Feathergill Adams and his heirs forever and the said Charles Bland for himself his heirs exors and admors the said tract of land and premises unto the said Feathergill Adams his heirs Exors and Admors shall and will warrante and defend against the claim of him the said Charles Bland his heirs executors and Administrators or from any other person or persons by or under him or them and against the claim of all and every other person or persons whatsoever In witness whereof the said Charles Bland for himself his heirs exors and Admors hath hereunto set his hand and affixed his seal the day and date above written.
Charles Bland (LS)
Phillis (her mark) Bland (LS)
Signed Sealed acknowledged
and delivered in presence of

At a court held for Madison County on Tuesday the 6th day of October 1795.
This Indenture was acknowledged by Charles Bland and Phillis his wife to be their act and deed she being first privately examined as the law Directs and relenquished her right of dower therein and ordered to be records.
Teste Will Irving MCC

Possible Distant Cousins

Have you tested your DNA? If so, have you been able to break through a brick wall using your DNA results?

My main purpose for testing my DNA was to learn more about my Crawford ancestry. Since I already have identified my 4th great grandfather on my Crawford line, I was hoping to identify his siblings and parents via DNA. So far, my results have not helped me get thru that brick wall.

However, there is one DNA test that has puzzled me for quite some time. This is the sole test that shows up when I search my matches for ancestors born in Garrard County, Kentucky: i******. I share 23 cM across 2 segments with i****** and one of my brothers shares 24 cM across 2 segments with i******.

When I looked at shared matches with i******, I found two other matches that appear to have the same common ancestors: Isaac Crawford and Nancy Miller. In looking at matches shared with these two other matches, I discovered a fourth match who descends from a different Garrard County family.

Clues from a Letter

Do you ever re-look at a document and discover a new clue? That was my experience when a 4th cousin sent me a copy of a letter - a letter that I think I've seen before.

Dodge City, Kansas, March 29, 1907

Dear nephew (William Clay Crawford)

Your ????? to hand. I am glad to hear from you. Your Grandfather
Crawford lived to be 56. Died with colic. Your Grandmother died
about the same age with typhoid. From your Great Grandfather
Crawford lived until the age of 72 and died with sunstroke. our
Great Grandmother Crawford lived 78-don't remember what caused here
death. Your Grandparents were born in Ohio and died in Warren
County, Indiana (W. Lebanon?). Your Great Grandparents moved from
Kentucky and died in southern Ohio. Your Great Great grandparents
came from Scotland and are buried in Kentucky not far from
Lexington. You are of strong hearty people and ought to live to
be an old man with proper care of your health. I am in only
tolerable health myself. I am muscular paralysis. Will stop off
and see you and family and next time I am through if possible.
Kindly regards to your family

From you affectionate uncle.
J.. H. Crawford
(James H. Crawford)

Missing Child

Do you ever feel like you are going in circles when it comes to records? That's how I'm feeling with my research of Isaac Crawford whom I believe to be the son of James and Rebecca (Anderson) Crawford.

I recently found an obituary for George Whitley Crawford who died in 1889 in Gentry County, Missouri. According to the obituary in the 20 Sept 1889 issue of the Albany Ledger of Albany Missouri, George was born in Bartholomew County, Indiana.

The biography of George W. Crawford, found on page 421 of The History of Gentry and Worth Counties, Missouri (St. Joseph, Missouri: National Historical Co., 1882), provides some more information about George's early life.

Mr. Crawford the son of Isaac and Nancy (Miller) Crawford, both Kentuckians by birth.
During his infancy his parents died, and he was reared by his grand
parents. At the age of two years he was taken to Garrard County, Ken-
tucky, where he remained until ten years of age. In 1833, he moved
to Clay County, Missouri, continuing to reside there until about the year
1838, when he came to Gentry County.

Anne Crawford Creath

1. Anne Crawford was the child of James Crawford and Rebecca Anderson.¹ She was born about 1780. She was also known as Anne Creath.

James Crawford of Jefferson County, Indiana

(Report created from RootsMagic using the Narrative Report feature)

1. James Crawford was born in 1758 in Augusta, Commonweath of Virginia.^1–5

     According to biographies, he served in the military for 3 months under Capt. Wm Colbert and Col. Patrick Lockhart and 3 months under Capt. Alex Henley and Col. Morgan between 1776 and 1780.^1,6–7 He served in the military in 1778 in Botetourt (historical), Botetourt, Virginia, United States.^2–4,8 James served in the military for 3 mos. under Capt. Alex Henley and Col. Morgan.⁴

     He witnessed the will of John Crawford on 7 Apr 1779 in Montgomery, Virginia, United States.^9–12 He was the parent of Anne Crawford born in 1780.¹³

     James filed land entry papers  in Jun 1782 in Madison, Virginia, United States.¹⁴

     He was the parent of William Crawford born in May 1784.¹³
   

     He  purchased land from Thomas Kennedy containing 200 acres on Paint Lick Creek adjoining the John Kennedy station on 19 Apr 1786 in Lincoln, Virginia, United States.¹⁵ 

George W. Crawford

Have you ever just stumbled across something that others may seem minor when it provides major clues. That's what happened yesterday when I did a simple Google search for 'Isaac Crawford Nancy Miller'.

That search led to a biography of George W. Crawford of Gentry County, Missouri in the book, The History of Gentry and Worth Counties, Missouri on page 421.

George W. Crawford

James or George

Do you have a brick wall? Does that brick wall involve identifying the father of an ancestor? At some point, many of us face such a brick wall.

One of my brick walls involves my ancestor, James Crawford. My James Crawford married Sally Duggins in 1799 in Garrard County, Kentucky. All of my research efforts have not punched a hole in this brick wall. Thus, I'm using the FAN (friends acquaintances, and neighbors) club method to branch out and try to find a way around this brick wall. I'm currently researching all of the Crawford families in the area of Garrard County, Kentucky during its early days of settlement.

One of those families is James Crawford and his wife Rebecca Anderson. My current theory is that this James Crawford might be an uncle to my ancestor. Thus, I'm hoping that by researching James and Rebecca and their children, I might find something relating to my James Crawford. Unfortunately, identifying the children of James and Rebecca is proving to be difficult.

I found information about this family in the Florence Wilson Houston book, Maxwell History and Genealogy

Aristippus Brown

As part of my CRAWFORD research, I'm trying to determine whether the Isaac Crawford of Jefferson County, Indiana is the same Isaac Crawford who married Nancy Miller in Garrard County, Kentucky. Thus, I'm trying to locate information on potential children. One of those potential children is Elizabeth Crawford who married Aristippus Brown in Clinton County, Missouri.

Unfortunately, I'm having trouble locating much information on Aristippus Brown. What I've been able to locate is a marriage record, land records and mentions in county histories.

Aristippus Brown was married to Elizabeth Crawford in Clinton County, Missouri on 3 August 1836.

According to the History of Davies and Gentry Counties, MIssouri, Aristippus Brown was from Kentucky and lived near Genntryville in 1839. The history indicates that Aristippus Brown moved to California.

In May of 1840, Aristippus Brown and Elizabeth Brown his wife, sold land in Garrard County, Kentucky. This deed identifies Elizabeth as Elizabeth Crawford, daughter of Isaac Crawford and granddaughter of Jacob Miller.

Garrard County Kentucky
Land and Property

Deeds, Vols. N-O 1838-1843
FamilySearch Film 183247 DGS 8568105

Page 396

Sellers Deed

Have you ever encountered some random information in a Facebook post that led you to look for additional records? That was my experience recently when someone posted in the Families of Garrard County, Kentucky group about the Sellers-Kennedy riot.

Since my Crawford family left Garrard County before 1820, I haven't paid much attention to the history of the county after that. One of the Crawford lines I'm tracking from the Garrard County area had two daughters marry into the Sellers family. (William Sellers married Sarah Crawford and James Sellers married Mary Crawford) These particular Sellers families also moved out of the county.

At this point, I don't know how the Sellers of the 1873 riot connect to the Sellers family of the 1790s but I'm guessing they do connect.

One of the comments on the post mentioned the search for Sellers deeds. When I looked back at my research, I realized I did not have the deed for the sale of land. Since those records are easily accessible on FamilySearch, I located that deed today.

At first glance, this deed may be for land that belonged to James Sellers and Mary Crawford.

Deeds Identifying Miller Heirs

I'm trying to figure out whether the Isaac Crawford and wife Nancy of Jefferson County, Indiana are the Isaac Crawford who married Nancy Miller in Garrard County, Kentucky. Thus, I'm tracking the transfer of land by heirs of Jacob Miller, Nancy Miller's father.

In May 1840, James and John Crawford were identified as sons of Isaac Crawford when they sold their 1/6th of 1/11th of Jacob Miller's land to William Duff. Going back through the deeds, I have identified three other deeds where protions of Jacob Miller's land was sold to William Duff. Two of those deeds also involve heirs of Isaac Crawford.

Aristippus Brown to William Duff -- 2 May 1840

Garrard County Kentucky
Land and Property

Deeds, Vols. N-O 1838-1843
FamilySearch Film 183247 DGS 8568105

Book N
Page 396

No. 1381
Aristippus Brown [sc] to William W Duff

Miller Heirs - Crawford Deed

Garrard County Kentucky
Index to deeds, 1797-1935; deeds, 1797-1866; births, 1789-1801

Deeds, Vols. N-O 1838-1843
FS Film 183247 DGS 8568105

Book N page 406

No 1387 James & John Crawford to Wm W Duff

Same Name Issue with Ancestry Hints

Is something causing Ancestry's hinting system to merge people of the same name?

I'm in the process of trying to disprove several Crawford men as the father of my James Crawford of Preble County, Ohio. Today, I'm trying to work on Rev. James Crawford (1752/3 to 1803) of Fayette County, Kentucky. I've found James Crawford [LZN5-SCD] in some of the Fayette County, KY records on Family Search. However, I have yet to find anything that would link James to his children. Thus, I decided to see if the Ancestry tree hints would help.

I've had Rev. James Crawford along with several other Crawford families from early Kentucky in my tree for quite some time. Thus, I expected to find legitimate hints. Instead, I found a lot of hints for other James Crawfords, whom I also have in my tree. At first, I just assumed that other researchers had confused some of these Crawford families in their trees. However, when I looked at the hints for Ancestor Member trees, I realized that I was ONLY seeing member trees for a DIFFERENT James Crawford.

Sellers Mystery

Have you ever seen names on documents and wondered how they fit into your tree? That's my situation right now with the SELLERS family!

My ancestor, James Crawford, married Sally Duggins in Garrard County, Kentucky in 1799. James Sellers signed the bond and was one of the parties named in the bond.

Know all men by these presents that
we Jams Crawford and James Sellers are
hito and firmly bound unto James Garrard
Esqr Governor of Kentucky in the just and
full sum of fifty pounds current money
to which payment will and trust to be
made we bind ourselves our heirs [so] jointly
and surrally firmly by these presents seald and
dated this 12th day of Sept 1799
Th eCondition of the above obligation
is such that whereas there is a marriage shortly
into to be solemnized between the above bound
James Crawford and Sally Duggins for 
which a licenses has issued now if there 
be no lawful cause to obstruct the sd
marriage then the above obligation so
be void. Else to remain in full force and 
virtue
James Crawford (seal)
James Sellers (seal)

Did I Find a Marriage Record?

Have you ever looked at a court document trying to figure out who all of the people are and suddenly realize you may have stumbled across something totally different?

Well, that was my situation yesterday. I found additional documentation for the 1779 will of John Crawford in Montgomery County, Virginia (Order Book 2, image 292),

At a court c/ and held for Montgomery County April 7th 1779

Last will and testament of John Crawford deceased proven by oath of George
[D]ouglas James Crawford and Bazewell Maxwell and ordered to be recorded

Feathergill Adams Deed

Garrard County Kentucky
Deed Book A
page 690 - 691

This Indenture made this 21st day of January 1803
between Richard Cave & Elizabeth his wife of the county of Woodford and Common
wealth of Kentucky of the one part and Feathergill Adams
of the county of Garrard and State aforesaid of the other
part witnesseth that the said Richard Cave and Eliza
beth his wife for and in consideration of the sum of one
hundred pounds current money of the Commonwealth
of Kentucky to them in hand paid by the said Feather
Gill Adams, the receipt where of they do hereby acknowledge
and they themselfes fully satisfyed an content therewith
and for themselves and their heirs de freely clearly and
absolutely bargain and sell unto the aforesaid Feathergill
Adams and unto his heirs and assigns forever, one
certain tract dividend or parcel of land containing by

Migration Clues

Have you used city directories to help locate a person between census years? Although I'm not finding as much detail in tax lists, I am finding that they help track migration in the early 1800s.

I've been doing FAN club research in early Kentucky. So far, I've been concentrating on the area that became Garrard County. Because of changing county boundaries, I've searched tax lists for Madison, Garrard and Lincoln counties.

• Tax Man Cometh - Madison County, KY 1787-1796
• Garrard County Tax - 1797-1806
• Lincoln County Taxes  

Since I've identified the Crawford land holdings during this time period. I'm now searching the Garrard County tax lists from 1807 to 1824 to identify the time period when the various families moved away.

Families that could potentially be in Garrard County between 1807 and 1824

• Rebekah Crawford - owned land between Sugar Creek and Boone's Mill Creek
• James Crawford, husband of Martha Knight and likely son of Rebekah Crawford
• James Sellers, husband of Mary Crawford (likely daughter of Rebekah Crawford)
• William Sellers, husband of Sarah Crawford (likely daughter of Rebekah Crawford)
• Alexander Moore, husband of Mary Crawford - owned land on Sugar Creek and on Paint Lick Creek
• James Crawford, husband of Sally Duggins
• James Crawford, husband of Rebecca Anderson -- owned land on Paint Lick Creek
• William Crawford - owned land on Paint Lick Creek

Moore Deeds

What's your 'go-to' record type to try and identify people? For me, that resource is land records.

I've recently been using land records to figure out the various Crawford families in the Garrard County, Kentucky area prior to 1820. One of those families is the widow, Mary Crawford who appears on the tax records for Madison County, Kentucky as early as 1787.

In 1793, a Mary Crawford married an Alexander Moore in Garrard County, Kentucky. I was able to use land records to show that the Mary Crawford who married Alexander Moore is the same Mary Crawford who purchased land from Richard Cave.

Now, I'm trying to track Alexander Moore in hopes of learning more about Mary Crawford. There are two deeds for the sale of land in 1811 that indicate that Alexander Moore was from Fleming County, Kentucky.